Large capacity safety valve



March 24, 1942.

R. E. FALLS A' LARGE CAPACITY SAFETY VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 5, 1959 March 24, 1942. R, E, FALLS- 2,277,656

LARGE CAPACITY SAFETY VALVE original Filed Jan'. 5, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 Jzz/ezz 2";

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 2,271,656 LARGE CAPACITY sArE'rY vALvr.

Robert E. Falls, Chicago, lll.,

assignor to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation-of Illinois Original application January 5, 1939, Serial No.

249,358, now Patent No.

Divided vember 4, 1941.

2,261,461, dated Noand this application February 27, 1941, Serial No. 380,807`

t Cl. 137-53) 3 Claims.

'I'his invention appertains to valves and more particularly to the type known as full area pop safety valves and is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 249,358, led January 5, 1939, now Patent No.12,261,461, granted Nov. 4,

It is an object of my invention to provide a valve for 'compressible fluids, such as steam, air,

of a gas or vapor may be considered one oi the fundamental properties of the substance and generally is different for different substances. The ratio of the critical pressure Ato the inlet pressure o a particular compressible uid may be expressed in terms of its specific heats, that is,

gas and the like, which when wide open will admit passage therethrough of substantially that quantity of fluid which would ilow through the nozzle or seat bushing of the valve if the valve disc and superstructure were removed and the fluid allowed to escape to atmosphere.

Another object of vmy invention is to provide a safety valve in which the lifting forces acting upon the closure member'when the latter is not in contact with its seat are relatively low, thus the where r is the criticalpressure ratio and K is the ratio of the speciiicl heats at constant pressure and at constant volume.

I ues of r for saturated steam and air are .58 and valve requires a comparatively light spring to resist the action of the lifting forces.

Another object of my invention is to provide a plurality of adjustable regulator means which restrict the flow of fluid past the closure member thereby eecting higher lift of the closure member.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a popsafety valve having a pop regulator ring adjacent the valve seat and a blowdowri regulator ring adjacent the outlet port.

I am aware that substantially full-area discharge has been achieved by others, as for example, in the United States Patents #86,168 to Low, #306,208 to Ashton et al., and #1,743,430 to Coflin, by deecting or reversing the ow of escaping fluid, thus utilizing the reactive force to effect suicient lift of the closure member or disc to change the controlling orifice from the discseat opening to the throat or inlet opening of the valve. The principle of the operation of my invention is based upon theA application of a fundamental law of the flow of` compressible uids which in effect states that the rate of discharge of' a compressible fluid through a of 'a given throat area and at constant inlet pres- -sure is a function of the inlet pressure alone,

provided that the back pressure on the nozzle is equal to or less than a certain pressure known as the critical pressure.

The above referred-to law, which has been established theoretically and by actual tests, re-

stricts Napiers formula and other empirical formulas for the discharge of compressible uids through nozzles and orices, as these formulas are applicable only when the back pressure is less than the critical pressure. The critical pressure .53, respectively. In other words, a valve having an inlet pressure of 100 pounds per square inch absolute oi saturated steam, in order to achieve full area discharge, could not have a back pressure exceeding approximately 58 pounds per square inch absolute.

Another way of stating the fundamental law above referred to is to `say that the rate of discharge of compressible fluids through an opening is not influenced by the contour or character of the outlet opening, provided that any obstruction or `restriction of the flow in the outlet opening is not suflicient to cause a back pressure at the,

throat or minimum area of the inlet opening greater than the critical pressure of the fluid. However, there is one exception to the general law which must be kept in mind in adapting the principle to a. safety valve. In order to obtain full area discharge the inlet pressure must be sufficiently high so vthat the critical pressure is always above atmospheric pressure.

Accordingly, an important object of my invention is to -provide a valve employing the principle of increasing the back pressure of the uid flowing through the valve to a pressure not greater than the critical pressure and thereby utilize the back pressure to attain sulcient lift of the closure member or disc to transfer the orice connozzle trolling the rate of discharge from the disc-seat opening to the throat or inlet opening. 1

For a full understanding'of my invention and its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following -detailed description which is to te taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional side view of a valve illustrating the general features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a valve showing a speciiic application of my invention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

The approximate val'- lFor simplicity, the general principles of my invention will be described first in connection with Fig. 1 which specific structure has been disclosed in my-aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 249,358, and then the application of these general principles will be discussed with particular reference to Fig. 2 which structure is herein specifically disclosed.

Referring to Fig. 1, the valve body or casing generally designated I is formed having its lower portion 'i adapted for attachment to a boiler or other pressure-containing vessel (not shown) by bolting or screwing Onto a conduit connection. A side portionor outlet 3 of the casing I is provided with screw threads 4 for attachment to an exhaust pipe (not shown). The upper portion o f the body I has attached to it the usual yoke 5 which by cooperation with the adjusting nut 6 and the spring 1 guides and maintains a downwardly directed force upon the stem 8 which in turn transmits the downwardly exerted force to the piston-like closure member or disc 9 normally maintaining the latter in abutting contact with the seat II.

The cylinder bushi-ng or fixed annular member I2 which serves also as a guide for the disc 9, is preferably detachably secured to the upper portion of the casing I to facilitate assembly operations on the valve and has a depending annular lip I3. The disc 9 is positioned within the bushing I2 and is adapted for reciprocable movement therein for opening and closing the valve.

The lower portion of the casing I is provided with a`n inlet passageway I4 preferably having a detachable seat bushing I5, the latter provided Y with the throat or seat nozzle I0 which is preferably a continuation of the inlet passageway. The upper portion I6 of the` seat bushing I5 is screw-threaded on its exterior surface and has mounted thereupon the internally screw-threaded pop regulator ring I1 which when rotated will move axially upon the shank portion I6 of the seat bushing. Exterior screw threads are also provided upon the upper portion of the pop regulator ring I1 upon which the blowdown regula.- tor ring I8 is mounted for axial adjustment with respect to the depending lip I3 of the bushing I2. Locking plugs I9 and 2I are provided which extend from the exterior of the casing I to engage the serrated exterior surfaces I 1a and I8a of the pop regulator ring I1 and the blowdown regulator ring I 8, respectively, for the purpose of preventing the accidental movement and maladjus'tment thereof.

The manner of operation of a device employing my invention as illustrated generally in Fig. 1,

n of the chamber 2.3 may be varied to restrict more can best be explained by describing initially the function of each of the cooperating members. The compressible fluid controlled by the valve enters the valve through the inlet passageway I4 and throat IIJ and thereupon exerts an upwardly directed force against the exposed lower surface 22 of the closure member which is counterbalanced by the downwardly directed force exerted by the spring 1. When this upwardly exerted force exceeds the counterbalancing force referred to, the disc or closure member 9 will rise from its normal abutting contact with the seat I I and allow the fluid to escape into the annular chamber 23 which is defined by the angularly disposed surfaces 24, 25 and 26, respectively, of the disc 9, the pop regulator I1 and the seat bushing I5. It will be noted that by axial adjustment of the pop regulator ring I1, the size of the annular outlet orifice or passageway 21 or less the escape of the fluid fromthe chamber 23 lwhereby the desired popping or release action of the valve may be obtained.

With the disc 9 slightly raised from the seat II, allowing the uid to escape into the chamber 23, the upwardly directed force of the fluid is exerted upon both lower surfaces 22 and 24 of the disc 9 thereby causing a further rise of the disc and a corresponding enlargement of the orifice 21. The fluid escaping from the chamber 23 enters the annular chamber 28 which is defined respectively by.the annular surface 29 of the pop regulator ring I1, the annular surface 3l of the blowdown regulator ring I8, the annularly extending surfaces 32, 33,A 34 and 24 of the disc 9, and the under-surface 35 of the depending lip I3. It will be apparent that the annular outlet orifice or passageway 36 of the chamber 28 may be varied in its size'by axial movement of the blowdown regulator I8 by rotation of the latter member'upon the pop regulator ring I1 to restrict generally the escape of fluid from the chamber 28.

The aforesaid restriction of fluid flow through the orifice 38 causes an increase of the fluid pressure within the chamber 28 thereby producing a still further rise of the disc 9 by reason of the pressure acting upon the surface 32 of the disc 9, in addition to acting upon the plane surfaces 22 and 24 of the disc. As previously explained, the pressure within the chamber 28, which is customarily referred to by those skilled in the art as back pressure, must not be permitted to exceed the critical pressure of the fluid if maximum eciency of the valve is desired. In order to prevent any restriction of ow by the orifice passageway 38, it is necessary that its area must be not less than 1/1 times the area of the throat or seat nozzle I0, the latter being the fluid inlet leading to the chamber 28 and r, as previously defined, being the critical pressure ratio of the fluid. However, by proper adjustment. of the orifice 36 and the spring 1 the fluid pressure acting upon the disc 9 can readily be made to cause the disc to rise to such an extent that the effective area of the disc-seat opening is greater than the effective area of the throat III, thus the latter orifice becomes the controlling orifice which determines the rate of fluid flow through the valve.

From the above explanation it is apparent that my invention provides a double pop of the valve in securing a full area discharge, that is, a discharge in volume at least equal to the discharge through the inlet throat I0. However, by proper adjustment of the blowdown regulator ring I8 it is possible to exercise such fine degree of control that the two pops or fluid discharges appear to occur simultaneously. The closing action of the valve comprises only the downward movement of the disc 9 to an abutting contact with the seat II which occurs when the aggregrate lifting forces of the fiuid acting upon the disc decrease to a quantity less than the spring load.

Of course, the detailed manner in which regulation of the flow through the chamber of the valve casing is accomplished may vary considerably in the many forms available, and in the latter connection attention is now directed to an illustrative construction. which is shown in Fig. 2 and which I specifically disclose herein. Therein the body or casing I has an extended side outlet portion31 in which the adjustable blowdown 2,277,656 member 38 corresponds in purpose to the regulator ring I8. With the exception of the above mentioned change the construction of the valve is quite similar to the construction of the valve described in connection with Fig. 1 except for the location of the blowdown regulatorring I 8.

The extended outlet 31 has an internal annular shoulder 39 which is provided with female screw threads for the reception and adjustment of the blowdown regulator member 38. I'he regulator 38 preferably, but not necessarily, is a tubular member open at the end 4I and closed at the opposite end 42 as indicated. Male screw threads 38a are provided on the tubular portion of the regulator for cooperation with the complementary threads of the shoulder 39. A plurality of ports 43 is preferably provided in the wall of the tubular portion of the regulator to allow for the passage of the escaping iiuid from the exterior to the interior thereof and from The foregoing constitutesv a detailed descrip-r tion of preferred embodiments of my invention. Y

Obviously, however, the details described may be which the uid by reason of the open end 4I is directed force exceeds the downwardly directed force exerted upon the disc through the stem 8 and by the spring, the disc rises from the seat Il, admitting the fluid to the chamber 23. Increased pressure within the chamber 23 forces the disc farther from its seat and admits the iiuid to the chamber '45 which is an equivalent in purpose of the chamber 28 described in Fig. 1. The blowdown regulator 38, having been previously axially adjusted to cover or vuncover a portion of the ports 43 to restrict generally the passage of fluid therethrough, Acauses a back.

pressure to be built up within the chamber 45.

Again-for the reasons previously given, it is imperativye, in order to provide 4forvthe maximum capacity of the valve, that the back pressure within the chamber 45 should not be permitted to exceed the critical pressure oi' the fluid. The back pressure cooperating with the inlet pressure forces the disc to a position sufficiently removed from the seat II so that the throat opening IU becomes the controlling orice which determines the rate of fluid discharge through the valve.

varied without departing from the inventive concept disclosed, and it is to be clearly understood that right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling fairly within the scope of the claims appended hereto.V

I claim:

1. A safety valve for compressible fluids comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, the said inlet having an annularly extending seat, spring loaded closure means cooperating with thesaid seat, flow regulator means within thecasing, the said regulator 'means including an axially movable annular member cooperating with said closure means to provide an annular flow passage between said closure means and said annular member and a separate reciprocably movable member flxedly positioned in said outlet, whereby the discharge above and over the valve seat occurs through an annular restricted passage at the outlet, the area of which remains constant irrespective of the position of the closure means.

2. In a safety valve for compressible fluids, a casing having an inlet and a side outlet, the said inlet having a seat, a closure member cooperating with said seat, an axially movable annular member cooperating with said seat and said closure member and forming an annular ow passage between said seat, closure member, and annular member, means for restricting the flow of uid through the said outlet comprising a stationary member transversely positioned therein to restrict the flow therethrough, whereby the back Y pressure thereby created functions to increase the lift of the said closure member.

3. In a safety valve for compressible iiuids, the combination of a casing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet having a seat, a springloaded closure member cooperating with the said seat, iiow regulator means within said casing,

the latter means including an axially movableannular member encircling said seat and cooperating with the closure member to provide an annular flow passage between said closure member and annular member and a separate axially movable member within Vsaid outlet.' the said latter members being independently adjustable, whereby thev discharge area' through the outlet remains constant irrespective of the position of the closure member.

' ROBERT E. FALLS. 

